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ASQ5vsB120iPetrol
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  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
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  • SpecsSQ5 · 120i

Audi SQ5 Sportback vs BMW 120i F20LCI: which is truly faster?

Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.

family SUV · 2026 vs 2018 · Methodology
AudiPetrolFaster

SQ5 Sportback

367 hp · 550 Nm · 2,040 kg · 2026

VS
BMWPetrol

120i F20LCI

184 hp · 270 Nm · 1,375 kg · 2018

Result · 0–100 km/h

AAudi SQ5 Sportback

4.42 s

Gap2.70 sin favour of SQ5 Sportback
BBMW 120i F20LCI

7.12 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureSQ5 Sportback120i F20LCIGap
0–100 km/h4.42 s7.12 s2.70 s · SQ5 Sportback
400 m standing start12.76 s15.22 s2.46 s · SQ5 Sportback
1,000 m standing start23.50 s27.53 s4.03 s · SQ5 Sportback
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h225 km/h25 km/h · SQ5 Sportback
Power-to-weight ratio5.56 kg/hp7.47 kg/hpbetter ratio · SQ5 Sportback

Watch the race

Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.

AudiPetrolSQ5 Sportback
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWPetrol120i F20LCI
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
100 m
200 m
300 m
400 m
500 m
600 m
700 m
800 m
900 m
1000 m
0m → 1000m
Gap0m

Stage-by-stage comparison

Simulated performance at each stage. Best value in bold.
StageSQ5 Sportback120i F20LCI
0–30 km/h1.06 s1.79 s
0–50 km/h1.78 s2.99 s
0–80 km/h3.15 s5.16 s
0–100 km/h4.42 s7.12 s
0–120 km/h6.02 s9.70 s
0–160 km/h10.50 s16.79 s
0–200 km/h17.55 s29.61 s
400 m standing start12.76 s15.22 s
1,000 m standing start23.50 s27.53 s
Top speed limited250 km/h225 km/h

Parameters and assumptions

Simulation

Start
Standing, straight line
Surface
Dry asphalt, 23°C
Wind
None
Driver
1 person, 75 kg

Calibration

Splits
0–100, 0–200 manufacturer
Power curve
Real measurement (Caralogy)
VMax
Manufacturer limited
Transmission
Losses integrated in model

Physics model calibrated on manufacturer splits. The limited top speed is not the real aerodynamic top speed of the vehicles.

Under the bonnet

Manufacturer technical specifications. The power-to-weight ratio is the key physical factor in a drag race.

Audi

SQ5 Sportback

5,56kg/hpratio better by 1,91 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power367 hpPending
Torque550 Nm
Weight2 040 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
Gearbox7-speed S tronic
BMW

120i F20LCI

7,47kg/hpcompensated by −665 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power184 hp4 cyl
Torque270 Nm
Weight1 375 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
Gearbox8-speed Steptronic

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the SQ5 Sportback hits 100 km/h in 4.42 s versus 7.12 s for the 120i. At this point, the SQ5 Sportback leads by 2.70 s and sits roughly 24 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the SQ5 Sportback is doing 142 km/h against 122 km/h for the 120i. The gap is 1.76 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the SQ5 Sportback crosses the line in 12.76 s versus 15.22 s. The 2.46 s gap represents roughly 100 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the SQ5 Sportback continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 196 km/h versus 170 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the SQ5 Sportback finishes in 23.50 s versus 27.52 s, with a 4.02 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the SQ5 Sportback is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the 120i at 225 km/h. This isn’t a physical engine limit - it’s a manufacturer choice, usually for tyre safety or homologation reasons. Neither car reaches its true aerodynamic top speed.

With two combustion powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (5.56 kg/hp vs 7.47 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 11.27 seconds. The 2.70 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Other duels you might be interested in

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SQ5 Sportback vs X3 M40i

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A3 Sedan vs 120i

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, SQ5 Sportback wins (4,42 s vs 7,12 s).

SQ5 Sportback goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,42 seconds (calibrated simulation).

SQ5 Sportback: 367 hp, ratio 5,56 kg/hp. 120i F20LCI: 184 hp, ratio 7,47 kg/hp.

SQ5 Sportback: 250 km/h. 120i F20LCI: 225 km/h.